Machine for husking corn.



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MACHINE F03 HUSKING CORN.

(Application filed May 22, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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w. H. GERHARD.` wlAcHmlzv Fon HusKlNs conn.'

(Application led May 22, 1900.)

(N0 Model.)

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, MACHIN FOR HUSKING CORN.

(Application led May 22, 1900.)

a sums-sheet 3.

nu Model.)

mus Perils co Puomuwo. WASHINGTON, Q. l

UNITED STATES WILLIAM II. GERNAND, OF ALVIN, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR HusKlNG- CORN.

SPECIFICATION forming par: of Letters Patent No. 702,720, daten-June 17,1902. Application iiled May Z2, 1900.` Serial No. 17,530. (lITo model.)li

Improvements in Machines for Husking Corn;

and I dodeclare the following to' be a full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilledin theart to which it appertains to make and `use the same, reference beinghad tothe accompany-- ing drawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines for husking corn; and it has for itsobject'toprovide such a machine in which by an improved construction andarrangement of parts the husks will be stripped from the ears of cornandthe ears detached from the cornstalks and deposited in a wagon-bodyor other receiver as the husking-machine is moved through thecorn-field..v 1

It has, further, for its object to provide-'an improved construction andarrangementl of the stripping-rolls.l l f V It has, further, for itsobject to provide one of the rolls with shifting grippers, which havethe function of being moved' forward inthe rotation of the roll in whichthey are attached, i

so as to grip the husks at theb'uttofthefear and hold the husks untilthe ear isdetached and then to be retracted, whereby the 'husks are moreeffectively removed and less power required to eifect the husking andinjuryto the grains of corn on the ear prevented; also, to providesimple means for insuring'they delivery of the severed ears intothedelivery chute or trough from which the ears" are de'- liveredintothe wagon-body or other receiver ;VV also, to provide a constructionb v whichtwo rows may be operated "upon in the forward movement of thehusking-machine, the rows being operated upon in succession oralternation as the machine advances; also, to provide simple andefficient means for adjusting the height atV which the husking mechanismshall operate, and also to generally provide a construction andarrangement in' which -the machine will be simplified by having as fewparts as possible for efliciently performing the work.

To the accomplishment vof, the foregoing and -such other objects as mayhereinafter appear the invention consists inthe construction and in thecombination of parts hereinafter particularlST described and then soughti to be clearly defined by the claims,reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,

forming a part hereof, and yin which-- Figure lis a side elevation ofthe machine;

Fig. 2, a planof the sameshowing the man- I ner of' connectingit withthe wagon-body. Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the elevatingmechanism. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of a modiedrform. Fig. 5 is across-section,

enlarged, on the line'55 of Fig. 6; and Fig.

6 is a plan of Fig. 5 with a part of the frame broken away to show theiiuted roller with its shifting grippers.I

In the drawings the numeral l designates a frame, which preferably ismade of angle-iron and in which is journaled the axle 2 of a drive wheel3, said axle having sprocketwheels 4, from which chains 5 pass tosmaller sprockets 6 on shafts 7, each of which shafts carries abevel-gear 8, meshing witha bevelpinion'Q, mounted on'the end `of alongitudinally-tinted roll 10, which roll stands 'iii 'aninclined-position and constitutes one of the husking-rolls. TheVhnsking-roll l0 and its companion parallel rolls l1 and 12 are jour- Vm naled in suitable bearings supported from the guides which direct ythecornstalks into line to be received between Vthe rolls as the machineadvances. These guides, which are designatedby the numeralsl and 14, arepreferably'made of angle-iron, the guide lfhaving the horizontal'lportionof the iron at its bottomiand the guide llhaving its horizontalportion at the top, the two guides being spaced apart, asindi'catedingFig. 2, Afor the passage ofthe cornstalks. The roll 11,Which has asmoothsurface, is jokurnaled in sliding boxes 15, itting in brackets'16, extending from the guide 13, each box 15 being under, theinfluenceof a spring 17, so that the roller `llwill exert a yielding pressure ontheicorn'stalk,

thus causing' the stalk tofbe held byyielding pressure between the"tinted ro1land the smooth roll 11, and thus prevent undue strain on theparts by reason of the varying thickness ofthe stalks and also causingthe stalks to be always grasped by airm but yielding IOO pressure. Theother smooth roll 12 is journaled in the brackets 1S, which extend fromthe guide 14, and it lies over the space between the rolls 10 and 11 andparallel with said rolls, and it serves to press the ears of corn towardthe roll 11, so that when the ears are severed from the stalk they willfall over the roll 11 and into the trough located to one side ther'eofto receive the ears, said trough being designated by the numeral 19 andbeing inclined, as illustrated. The iuted roll 10 is provided in each ofits cavities with a sliding gripper 20, the grippers being illustratedas made in concave or semicircular form and being held in their cavitiesby means of screws 21, passed through slots 22 made in the grippers, sothat each gripper may have a transverse sliding movement, each gripperhaving one edge formed with serrations or teeth 23. It will be observedthat under this construction in the rotation of the roll 10 the forwardedge of each gripper first comes in contact with the butt-end of the earof corn and is pressed so as to project the rear or serrated edge of thegripper beyond the periphery of the roll and against the butt-end of theear of corn, the teeth of the gripper piercing the husks and taking aflrm hold thereon, which it retains until the forward edge of thegripper leaves the point of contact with the ear and stalk and that fromsuch point the rear or toothed edge is retracted, so as to loose itsgrip upon the husks. By this action the grippers are made to take a rnihold on the husks and draw on the same during the period that the stalkis being drawn down between the rolls and the ear is being pressedsidewise by the overhanging roll 12 during and after the breaking orsevering of the ear from the stalk, and thus the hnsks are morethoroughly separated from the ear of corn and the latter discharged toone side entirely free of the husks and without having the grains ofcorn shelled from the cob. This construction also enables the husking tobe effected with the expenditure of less power than otherwise.

For the purpose of moving or feeding the stalks between the guides 13and 14 as the machine is moved forward an endless belt or chain 23 isemployed, said chain being provided with fingers 24 and passing aroundthe sprockets 25 and 2G, mounted upon studs 27 and 28, screwed into thetop portion of the angle-iron guide 14, there being also provided asprocket 29, the stem 30 of which is provided at its lower end with abevel-gear 31, with which meshes a bevel-gear 32, connected with the endof the roller 10, so that motion will thus be transmitted to the endlessfeedchain in such manner as to press the stalk inwardly between theguides as the machine is moved forward, the stalks being thus guided anddirected to the lower ends of the rolls by which they are grasped andproperly fed as the machine moves onward, the lower or forward ends ofeach of the rolls being made tapering, as illustrated, so as to avoidchokroar/lao ing of the machine by the stalks coming in contact withabrupt edges of the rolls, the endless feed-chain holding and feedingthe stalks until the stalks are grasped by the stripping-rolls. As theears of corn are severed from the stalk those which are severed by theoutside set of husking or stripping rolls drop into the inclined spoutor trough 19, while those severed by the inner set of stripping-rollsfall into the chute or trough 33 and slide down the same, both troughsat their lower ends discharging into an elevator-trough 34, which at itsupper end discharges into the wagon-body 35, the elevator-trough 34being provided with a chain elevator 36, provided with carrier blades orblocks 37, said chain at its upper end passing. around a sprocket 38 andat its lower end beneath the trough around a sprocket 39, mounted upon ashaft 40, which carries a bevel-gear 41, with which meshes a bevel-gear42, attached to the lower end of a shaft 43, revolving in suitablebrackets 44 and having atits upperend a bevel-gear 45, with which meshesa bevel-gear 46 on one of the shafts 7, by which means motion istransmitted to the chain elevator.

It will be observed that one set of the stripper rolls and guides arelocated in advance of the other set. The purpose of this is to enabletwo rows of corn to be husked at the same time in the forward movementof the husking-machine and without both sets of husking-rolls actuallyhusking at the same moment, the arrangement of the two sets, one inadvance of the other, enabling them to husk and strip the ears of cornfrom the rows in alternation, the rolls of one set grasping the stalksin their path while those of the other set are passing from one stalk tothe next in its path of travel, and so on in alternation. This enablesmore than one row to be husked in the forward movement of the machinewithout imposing upon the machine the work of husking from the two rowsat the same moment, which if done would throw too much work upon themachine and require too much power to operate the machine; but byarranging the different sets of stripping-rolls in the manner indicatedthe result sought is accomplished without imposing too much upon themachine. As illustrated in the drawings, the distance which the forwardends of one set of husking-rolls lie in advance of the other set ofhusking-rolls is at an angle other than forty-five degrees, and wheneversuch angle is referred to it is meant to define and is to be understoodmerely as an illustration of such an angle as will permit the two setsof husking-rolls to operate in alternation, as previously described.

The husking mechanism, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings,is connected with the wagon-body by means of a rod 47, which is passedthrough slotted brackets 4S, connected to the frame 1, and into a tubeor sleeve 40, secured to the wagon-body, said tube or sleeve beingpreferably placed to the IOC IIO

wagon-bodyby means of angle-irons50which will t'to the lower edgesy ofthe `rear-bottom portion of the body. This rod is: prevented fromsliding in the tube or sleeve bymeans of pins 51, and the frame lisprevented from moving lengthwise of the rod 47 by means' of one or morepins 52, passed into the'rod at the sideof the brackets 48, thism'ode'o'fc'onnection at the same time permitting` the frame I tobe'tilted, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.. 3,so' that I[hestripping-rolls :and their guides may be adjusted upk or downtoac'commodate the mechanism toA theconditions .I of the cornstalks,thus enabling the husking apparatus 'to begin its work near the pointwherevthe lowermost earsof corn are on Vthe stalks, in some elds theears of corn being lower than in others. The'stability of the connectionbetweenV the frame l and the" wagon-body'is further insured by a slottedbracket 53, connected to a suitablepart of4 the frame l and having therod 54 passing through it,said rod being secured to the wagonbody inmanner similar to the rod 47 and otherwise held in place as previouslydescribed for the rod 47. These slotted brackets'also enable the huskingapparatus to be connected y to wagon-bodies of different heights.

' The husking apparatusis'raised andv lowered by means of.a lever55,which'is ful-A crumed to the wagon-body at 56 and is connected with thehusking apparatus by a rod j 57, which will beheld to the lever and.also to a collar 58, extending from the side of the husking'apparatus bymeans of pins v59, so that by removing saidpins and sliding'said rod theconnection between-the wagon-body and the'huskin'g apparatus may beseparated,

-the ends of said rod being .made angular where they fit to the leverand to saidfcollar.

The lever is held to its adj usted position byV its bolt 60 engaging thenotched rack 61, se-

Vcu'redft'o the wagon-body. Under the connections described whenonelwagon-body .is

filled with husked corn itmay de detached `fromthe huskingapparatus andreplaced by another wagon connected vup inthe same manner.

. In Figs. l, 2, and 3 of the drawings the` Vhusking mechanism isillustrated as driven from a power-wheel Sindependent of the wheels 62and 63 of the'wagon, which powery, wheel may be of a differentdiameterfrom the .wagon-wheels, and the gearing through which power will betransmitted from the power-wheel to the stripping-rolls and feedchain,will be so proportioned as toigive the proper motion to the parts inthe`advancement of the machine, and it may be here mentioned that the shaft2of the vpower-wheel 3 may be` provided with a ratchet or clutchmechanism, suchas is in `common use for the purpose of operating theparts onlyin the forward movement of the machine, said parts beingthrown out of operationby the ratchet mechanism in any backward movementof the machine, which ratchet mechanism, however,

given of the same. `changes can be made in the details and essentialfeatures of my invention still be retained.l

it is not necessary to illustrate, as the 4.same

is commonand wellknownl and forms no partv of the invention. Y

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, however, .I have illustrated one formfofth'einvention, in which is employed a singlefsetiofjstripping-rollsinsteadof two sets, as in.Fig. 2. In this modiiied form the construction'A andarrangement and operationv of theistrip'ping-rolls and of in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings.. In Fig. 4, however, showing the modified form,the frame64,which the guides and of the feed-chains are the'same as in each ofthe two sets of thestripping mechanism `or corresponding partsillustrated supports the stripping-rolls, will be bolted'di- Vrect tothe side of the wagon-bodyas illustrated, and the power will betransmitted to the lnted roll 10 through a bevel-gear 65,suitably'mounted and meshing with the bevelgear 9 of the roll 10,- saidgear 65 deriving its Vmotion from` the wagon-wheell 62 through a chain66, which passes around a Asprocketwheel 67, attached to the wagon-wheel62 and around a smaller sprocket-wheel 68, mounted upon the same shaftasthe `bevel-gear` 65, as l,

`illustrated in'Fig. 4. In this modification the earsof corn as they aredetached from the stalks are directed to one side by the smoothidler-roll l2 the same as in the other form of the invention and intolthe inclined trough 69,

Ving turned inwardly for that purpose. Motion will be transmitted to thecarrier-chain 70 by means of a sprocket 74, engaging the links of thechain and derivingits motion from the chain66, which-engages thatsprocket.

It willv be understood that theremay be ern-` ployed a ratchet or clutchmechanism in connection with the wagon-wheel 62, so as to have IOO IIO

motion transmitted only in the forward moveg ment of the wagon, whichmechanism, khowever, it is not necessary to illustrate, asit is commonand forms nopart of ,this invention.

Under the construction andarrangement of parts described la veryefficient,cornhusk-` ing machine is made which is composed ofcomparativelyfew parts Yrequiring but' com- Iparatively little power tooperate the machine,

the several features possessing'theadvantages pointedout in the detaileddescription It is also obvious'that Having ydescribed my ,invention andset forthits merits, .what I claim is- 1. In a husking-machine, ahusking-roll having grippers mounted thereon and movable transversely tothe tperiphery topermit izo one edge of the gripper to beprojectedwhile4 p p the opposite edge'` retreats whereby. as `one f edgeengages theear of corn the oppositeedge is projected to engagethe'butt-end ofthe year of corn in the rotation of the roll,substantially as described.

2. In ahusking-inachine, ahusking-roll provided with concave slidablegrippers adapted in the rotation of the roll to have one edge of thegripper to retreat while the other edge is projected into engagementwith the butt-end of the ear of corn in the rotation of the roll,substantially as described.

3. Inahuskingmachine, ahusking-roll provided with grippers slidabletransversely of its periphery with one free edge to be projected as theopposite edge retreats to adapt them by engagement of one edge with anear of corn to have the other edge projected into engagement with thebutt-end of the ear in the rotation of the roll, and a yielding rollarranged opposite to the first-named roll and adapted to exert ayielding pressure on the cornstalk in passing between the two rolls,substantially as described.

4. In a husking-machine, a husking-roll adapted in its rotation to havea part thereof engage the butt-end of the ear of corn, a yielding rollarranged opposite to the first-named roll and adapted to exert ayielding pressure on the cornstalk in passing between the rolls, and athird roll lying over the line of separation of said two rolls andadapted to press the ear of corn to one side as it is detached from thestalk, substantially as described.

5. In ahusking-machine, ahusking-rollprovided with movable grippersadapted in the rotation of the roll to have one edge projected to engagethe butt-end of the ear of corn, a yielding roll arranged opposite tosaid firstnamed roll and adapted to exert a yielding pressure on thecornstalk in passing between the rolls, and a third roll lying over theline of separation of said two rolls and adapted to press the ear ofcorn to one side as it is detached from the stalk, substantially asdescribed.

G. In a basking-machine, a husking-rcll adapted in its rotation to havea part thereof engage the butt-end of the ear of corn, a pressure-rollarranged opposite to the first-named roll, a third roll lying over theline of separation of said two rolls and adapted to press the ear ofcorn to one side as it is detached from the stalk, guides arranged inadvance of said rolls to direct the stalk between the guides to therolls, and an endless feed operating between said guides to act upon thestalks as they pass between the guides to the rolls, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a hnsking-rnachine, a husking-roll adapted in its rotation to havea part thereof engage the butt-end of the ear of corn, a roll arrangedopposite to the first-named roll, a third roll lying over the line ofseparation of said two rolls and adapted to press the ear of corn to oneside as it is detached from the stalk, guides arranged in advance ofsaid rolls to direct the stalk between the guides to the rolls, anendless chain or belt provided with fingers operating in the spacebetween the voaveo guides, sprockets around which said endless belt orchain passes, one of said sprockets being arranged back of the forwardends of the rolls, and means for transmitting motion to one of saidsprockets for the purpose of actuating the chain or belt, substantiallyas described.

8. In a hnskingmachine, a husking-roll adapted in its rotation to have apart thereof engage the butt-end of the ear of corn, a roll arrangedopposite to the rst-named roll, a third roll lying over the line ofseparation of said two rolls and adapted to press the ear of corn to oneside as it is detached from the stalk, guides arranged in advance ofsaid rolls to direct the stalk between the guides, an endless chain orbelt provided with fingers operating in the space between the guides,sprockets around which said endless belt or chain passes, one of saidsprockets having a bevelgear connected therewith, and a bevel-gearconnected with oneof said rolls and meshing with the bevelgear of thesprocket to transmit motion to the endless chain or belt, substantiallyas described.

9. In a husking-machine, a husking-roll adapted in its rotation to havea part thereof' engage the butt-end of the ear of corn, a roll arrangedopposite to the iirst-named roll, a third roll lying over the line ofseparation of said two rolls and adapted to pressthe ear of corn to oneside as it is detached from the stalk, guides arranged in advance ofsaid rolls to direct the stalk between the guides, an endless travelingfeed operating in the space between the guides, a toothed wheel engagingwith said traveling feed, a toothed wheel connected with thehusking-roll and meshing with the toothed wheel of the endless feed, anda system of gears for transmitting motion from a driving-wheel to thehusking-roll, substantially as described.

l0. In a husking-machine, the combination of a husking-roll having itsperiphery provided with grippers adapted in the rotation of the roll toengage the butt-end of the ear of corn, a yielding roll arrangedopposite to the `firstnan1ed roll, said two rolls being spaced apart soas to permit a cornstalk to pass between them, a third roll lying overthe line of separation of said two rolls and adapted to bear against anddeflect to one side an ear of corn as it is severed from the stalk bythe two first named rolls, and a trough arranged to one side of saidrolls t0 receive the detached ears of corn and have them pass throughthe same to a wagon-body or other receiver, substantially as described.

ll. In a husking-machine two sets of husking-rolls arranged opposite toeach other, the forward portion of one set of rolls being located at anangle of forty-tive degrees in advance of the forward portion of theother set of rolls, that is, so each set of rolls will operate inalternation on separate rows of stalks as the machine is moved forward,one roll of each set of rolls being provided with grippers ICO mountedthereon to move transversely to the periphery of the roll, a troughforeach set of husking-rolls arranged to receive the detached ears of cornfrom each set of rolls, and a trough arranged to receive the detachedears of corn from the troughs of the separate sets of rolls and deliverthe corn into a wagonbody or other receiver, substantially as described.v v

12. In a husking-machine, two sets of husking-rolls arranged opposite'toeachother/the forward portion of one set of rolls -being located at anangle other than forty-five degrees in gadvance of the forward portionof the other set of rolls, that is, so that each set of rolls willoperate in alternation on separate rows of stalks as the machine ismoved forward, one roll of each set of rolls being provided withgrippers mounted thereon to move transversely to the periphery of theroll, -a system of` power-communicating gears for each set ofhusking-rolls, and al power- `transmitting wheel common to both sets ofpower-communicatin g gears, substantially as described.

13. In ahusking-machine, two sets of husking-rolls arranged opposite toeach other, the

forward portion of one set of rolls being located at anangle other thanforty-five degrees in advance of the forward portion of the other set ofrolls, that is, sothat each set of rolls will operate in alternation onseparate rows of stalks as the machine is moved forward, one roll ofeach set of rolls being provided with grippers .mounted thereon to movetransversely tothe periphery ofthe roll, a gear-wheel for onen-roll ofeach set of basking-rolls, shafts provided .with wheels meshing with thewheelsof the husking-rolls, one for each, sprocket-wheels mounted onsaid shafts, a power-transmitting wheel-shaft provided withsprocket-wheels, and chains connecting said sprocket-wheels with thesprockets of the first-mentioned shafts, substantially as described.

14:. In ahusking-machine, twosets of husking-rolls arranged opposite toeach other, the forward portion of one set'of rolls beinglocated atanangle other than forty-ve degrees in advance of the forward portion of Ythe other set of rolls, that is, so that each set of rolls will operatein alternation ony separate rows of stalks as the machine ismovedforward, one roll of each set of rolls being provided with grippersmounted thereon toi move transversely to the` periphery of the roll, atrough for each set of husking-rolls extending substantially the lengthof said rolls and arranged to yreceive the detachedears of corn fromeach set of rolls, a trough arrangedy to receive the detached ears ofcorn from the troughs of the separate sets of rows, an endless carrierfor moving the ears of corn through the last-mentioned trough, mechanismfor positively rotating one roll of each set of husking-rolls, and meansfor transmitting power'fromsaid mechanism to the endless carrier in thedelivery-trough, substantially as described.

15. Ina husking-machine, the combination with a wagon, of anindependently-wheeled frame carrying husking-rolls, means for separablyconnecting the husking-rolls-carrying i frame with the wagon, said meanscomprising slidably-connected` members attachedy to the wagon and tosaid frame: to adapt the frame to be tilted and to be adjustablyconnected tothe wagon, a troughfor delivering Vears of corn fromthehusking-rolls tothe frame to be moved in the arc of a circle,fand

means for adjusting said'frame in relation to the wagon-body,substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. GERNAND.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. CoLLINes,l E. L. RAY.

